One of the two people killed in a late-night shooting at a popular Austin bar has been identified as 19-year-old Texas Tech University student Ryder Harrington, as authorities continue to investigate the attack as a possible act of terrorism.
Harrington was among two people fatally shot outside Buford’s Backyard Beer Garden near the campus of University of Texas at Austin early Sunday morning.
Victim was freshman fraternity member
His identity was confirmed by his father, Michael Harrington, in a brief phone call. Harrington was a member of the Beta Theta Pi fraternity chapter at Texas Tech, having joined in the fall of 2024.
In a tribute posted online, the fraternity described him as a “beloved son, brother and friend whose kindness and presence touched countless lives.”
“Ryder had a rare ability to truly enjoy life — to make people laugh, to make moments feel bigger, and to make ordinary days unforgettable,” the message read. “If anyone embodied what it meant to live fully and love deeply, it was Ryder.”
A GoFundMe page set up in his memory has raised over USD 48,000 toward its USD 50,000 goal. A candlelight vigil was scheduled for Monday evening.
His older brother, Reed Harrington, wrote on social media that it was “unfair, to say the least, that my little brother was only given 19 years on this earth.”
Gunman killed in exchange with police
The suspected gunman, identified by officials as Ndiaga Diagne, 53, was also killed at the scene after a shootout with police. Diagne was a naturalised US citizen originally from Senegal and a former New York City resident.
The shooting occurred shortly before 2 am on 6th Street, a busy nightlife strip in Austin, as the bar was preparing to close and hundreds of patrons were leaving. According to Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis, the suspect’s SUV was seen circling the block before he stopped and began firing from inside the vehicle.
Police said Diagne first shot at patrons on the patio from his car window before exiting and continuing to fire at people walking along the street. Officers engaged him within a minute of the first shots and fatally shot him.
Terrorism angle under probe
Federal authorities are examining whether the attack was ideologically motivated. Investigators said a Quran was recovered from the suspect’s vehicle, and he was reportedly wearing clothing with religious and possibly Iranian symbols.
“Obviously it’s still way too early in the process to determine the exact motivation, but there were indicators on the subject and in his vehicle that indicate a potential nexus to terrorism,” Alex Doran, acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s San Antonio office, told reporters.
In total, 14 others were injured in the attack, three of whom were reported to be in critical condition.
Austin Mayor Kirk Watson offered condolences to the victims and praised the rapid response of law enforcement, saying their swift action “definitely saved lives.”
As investigators work to determine the motive behind the shooting, the focus in Texas remains on mourning a young life lost in a burst of sudden violence.
